She'll compete in the International Dance Organization's 16th World Tap Dance Championships in Riesa, Germany, next week with dancers from 35 countries and five continents.

"I like everything about tap. Some stuff is hard and some is easier," she said. "I was taught at a young age, and I've worked at it. Each step has multiple sounds."

Since she was 3 years old, Mackenna has studied jazz, tap and ballet with Nicole Aravena, owner of Seven Stars Studio of Performing Arts in Brewster, N.Y.

Tap dancing is judged on technical skills and the clarity of the tapping sounds, Aravena said.

"Grace goes along with it. It's a performance. It's not just about their feet. That's why she trains in ballet," Aravena said.

"One of Mackenna's strengths is her performance quality. What you're trying to do is to have the audience enjoy what you are doing."

Mackenna qualified for the world competition after winning a gold medal at the American Dance Competition and then being one of four U.S. dancers selected from thousands of video dance exhibitions the International Dance Organization judges viewed.

"This the highest competition, and it means a lot to me," Aravena said. "I went to the Worlds as a junior in high school -- to Reisa, Germany, in the same building. It will be nostalgic."

Mackenna's English teacher, Anita Regen, expects her student to do well in the competition.

"Mackenna is a lovely young lady, and I think this is a wonderful opportunity for her," Regen said. "I am very proud of her. As a former tap dancer myself, I have a special place in my heart for dance. I know she will handle it with grace and ease."

Mackenna will perform a traditional tango her teacher choreographed to music from "Carmen" for her two-minute-and-13 second solo dance in the 12- to 15-year-old division.

She'll compete against 35 other dancers in that category -- three others from the U.S., as well as dancers from Slovenia, Czech Republic, South Africa, Ukraine, Italy, England, Canada, Germany, Switzerland and the Russian Federation.

Danielle Beirne said her daughter is an excellent student who is self-motivated and organized because she dances every day -- about 15 hours a week.

"This is exciting and it's nerve racking," Danielle Beirne said about the world championship. "I think it will be good because she has other kids coming with her who are all friends."

Mackenna will compete in three events in addition to solo dance -- trio, duo and small group -- which means she could be dancing each of the five days of the championships.

The judges will choose about half of the performers in each category to continue to the semi-finalists. From those, the finalists will be selected for gold, silver and bronze medals.

Mackenna said Bill "Bojangles" Robinson is her dancing hero.

In the book "Brotherhood in Rhythm" by Constance Valis Hill, Robinson was described this way: "As he danced to clean four- and eight-bar phrases followed by a two-bar break, Robinson's taps were delicate, articulate and intelligible.

"Whether interweaving buck or time steps with whimsical skating steps or little crossover steps danced on the balls of the feet, the dancing was upright and rhythmically swinging. The light and exacting footwork brought tap dance `up on its toes' from an earlier, earthier, more flat-footed shuffling style," the book continued.

"He was really good. He was a top legend," Mackenna said. "I watched his video. Everything he did, he did really well and really clearly."

Mackenna said she's never been out of the country, so she's looking forward to the trip. The Seven Stars group will fly from Newark to Frankfort to Dresden, and then drive to Reisa.

She'll wear a purple and black blouse with a flower design, black dress pants and her K360s tap shoes on stage and dance in what she calls "kind of a zone."